Places of Worship Contacts and Information for Peterborough Schools

SACRE has compiled a list of contacts for places of worship in Peterborough. There is also information about the nature of the community, a brief local history, activities, working with schools and material available. SACRE would like to add more contacts to this list so, if you have a contact for a place of worship that is not listed here, please contact the Clerk to SACRE at lucia.hawes2@peterborough.gov.uk.

Muslim

Husaini Islamic Centre

4 Burton Street · Peterborough · PE1 5HD

Mosque Secretary: secretariat@mksipeterborough.org

The Muslim Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Community was established in the 1970’s in order to advance the religion of Islam, to promote the Shia Ithna-Asheri faith and to maintain and develop the worship and life of the Shia Ithna-Asheri Community in Peterborough.

The community continues to grow with a number of families making Peterborough their new home. Today our community includes among its regular participants Shia Muslims of diverse cultures.

The activities of the community consist of religious, educational and social activities for all sectors of the community including:

Daily Congregational Prayers and Friday Prayers

Classes after Prayers with the Resident Imam

Educational seminars and lectures with guest speakers

Regular study circles for various ages

Madrasah for children on Saturdays

Qur’an classes for children on weeknights

Youth camps and clubs during school holidays

Arabic lessons

GCSE and A-Level tuition classes

Senior citizens gatherings and lunches on Wednesdays

Sports activities organised by Shia Sports

Yoga, fitness classes and sewing classes

Health Awareness lectures and medical screening programmes

Husaini Preschool

School visits to the centre

Open days for the wider community to visit the centre

Materials available for schools:

Prayer mats, prayer beads (tasbeeh), Holy Quraan in Arabic and with translation, any other resources that are requested will be provided.

The community does not own premises. Thanks to the Society of Friends we meet at the Quaker Meeting House in central Peterborough.

Liberal Judaism arose in early nineteenth century Germany as a modern approach to Judaism, for instance members of both sexes play full and equal roles in all aspects of worship. The organisation was founded in the UK in 1902 by men and women committed to the ideal of a liberal philosophy in order to ensure the continuity of Jewish faith, tradition, practice and ethics within a contemporary framework. Today in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, there are over forty Liberal and Progressive Jewish congregations.

The Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community was set up in 1989. It is a small community of approximately 40 people who meet monthly at the Quaker Meeting House. Services are conducted mainly in English with singing and major prayers in Hebrew

If yes, are there any particular protocols that teachers and pupils need to know about (eg removal of shoes, wearing head coverings, not carrying tobacco)?

Whilst inside a Sikh Gurdwara all congregation members and guests are asked to abide by the following:

No consumption of alcohol, tobacco, drugs (medication is allowable) or eggs or meat food products

The head must be covered (see attached photo)

Inside the main room, shoes must be removed.

For comfort and respect, it is normal for both men/boys and women/girls to wear trousers or women/girls may wear very long skirts.

Parents are welcome to join (if agreed with the school)

Parents should advise if any child should refrain from paying any respects to Sikh Guru (we do not object)

Parents should provide suitable head cover for children (we have some for the day)

We do not differentiate able with disabled persons. We have facilities to accommodate all persons and hope each student gets the most of the experience. WC facilities are available. Photo taking is acceptable.

Visit Agenda

Typically the following agenda is used (but is flexible to meet needs group need). Nominal duration 90-120mins. Visits can accommodate groups up to 120 people in one session (arriving in cars or coaches).

Group arrives and are advised of protocol. Spare head scarves are available.

Group is provided with light refreshment (fruit juice, biscuits etc…) and taken through Sikh History presentation (powerpoint) in English.

Group is taken to the Holy Room and asked to pay respect to the Guru Granth Sahib.

The group will listen to some short readings (to experience the events of a normal congregation session) and will be given the blessed food (chocolate sweets [some may contain nuts]). A commentary (in English) will be given to explain the activity taking place.

The group will be shown important Sikh artefacts and receive a small presentation explaining their significance.

The group will carry out team exercises.

Group farewell and photo for Gurdwara records.

Children will ask questions and we are happy to take questions at any time.

(If individuals do not want to do pay respect or accept the blessed food, they do not have to and we will not be offended!). They can still take part in all other parts of the agenda. Questions from participants are welcomed throughout the session.

Materials available for schools:

The Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee is able to demonstrate:

The 5 K’s artefacts

Kirpan (small dagger), Sword and other weapons based artefacts

Punjabi teaching books,

Sikh History Books

Sikh Guru Pictures

Pencils / paper is provided for all on site activities

Due to sensitivity of the above material it is not presently lent out to schools.

Meditation classes on a drop-in basis open to everyone regardless of background or faith (or none)

In-depth study programme for enrolled students

Regular chanted prayers open to everyone

Starting to explore stress busting courses for teenagers

School visits

Community visits

Corporate meditation and mindfulness courses

Social events e.g. meal and meditation evenings

Working with schools:

We are very happy to host schools coming to Drolma Centre – maximum size of group approx. 30 (students and adults); we request a small donation of £1 per child (adults free of charge) to cover wear and tear; usual maximum duration of 1 hour but this could be extended. NB: we have public liability insurance.

We are also very happy to visit schools, to lead assembly, speak to individual classes, lead simple relaxation meditations etc. We offer this free of charge but a small donation to cover travel costs would be appreciated. We are happy to discuss with teachers beforehand to tailor the visit to the class/curriculum needs.

Materials available for schools:

Resource pack for follow-up activities given to each school as part of the visit. We can show books and other artefacts but cannot loan them. Information given on useful website links with glossary of terms etc

PLP News

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Learning Mentor, Ravensthorpe Primary, January 2018

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Tom Ormston, Glapthorn Primary School, January 2018

"There is no doubt that division is a challenge for many children. Using the ideas from the session will enable me to lead my staff in developing their teaching to maximise learning in this area. Thank you for your input - I'm looking forward to the next one!
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Headteacher, Uffington Primary, January 2018

"The session was enjoyable and relevant to what I needed to do within my own practice currently. The resources given were of extremely high quality and the delivery of the training itself was great. As my school already uses POR as a scheme, this will further help my practice and help me to secure the strategies used.
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Lauren Marks, Mellers Primary School, Nottingham, November 2017

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Kay Corley, Headteacher of William De Yaxley Primary Academy

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Martin Fry, Headteacher of Ravensthorpe Primary School

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Becky Waters, Headteacher of Dogsthorpe Infants School

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Sally Williams, Headteacher of Stanground St John’s Primary School

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Emily Wilson, Southfields Primary School

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Martin Fry, Headteacher of Ravensthorpe Primary School

"PLP still organise the most convenient training available in the local area"

Orton Wistow Primary School, Peterborough

""High-quality events like those run by PLP are key. For example, they hosted an event with a leading Ofsted inspector so it was useful to hear things from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. At the same we are developing our NQTs through PLP.""

Bill Lord, Headteacher, Long Sutton Community Primary School

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Tristan Revell, Principal, Malcolm Sargent Primary School

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Cathy Carlisle, Headteacher, Alderman Jacobs Primary School

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"I became a NQT in 2015 ... I began my CPD immediately, and did six sessions with Peterborough Learning Partnership including ‘The Outstanding Lesson’ and ‘The Skilled Practitioner’, together with some other sessions run by the local authority on literacy and numeracy. CPD has had a huge impact on my career so far. I am massively appreciative of the development I’ve had."

Kirsty Bedford; Year Two Teacher at Hampton Vale Primary School in Peterborough

"CPD ... absolutely vital in terms of school improvement"

Joanna Cook, Headteacher at Paston Ridings Primary School

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"We invest quite extensively in CPD because the main way to improve teaching standards is through improving the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. The quality of staff and their subject expertise are major factors in their effectiveness; the designation of a school – whether you are an academy or not for example – is not a significant factor in my opinion"

Iain Erskine; Principal at Fulbridge Academy, Peterborough

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Nicola Kinsey is EYFS Team Leader at The Beeches Primary School in Peterborough

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Jan Grimble, Head of School at Spalding Primary School

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Andy Lyons, Headteacher at Hampton Hargate Primary School.

"CPD has definitely impacted on the quality of teaching and learning. When I arrived 22% was good or outstanding. Now we can say securely we are at least 72%."

"Peterborough Learning Partnership (PLP) initiatives have had a very large impact on me. Whether or not I’ve been able to attend the courses and events available to me, the very fact that there is a bank of ideas and knowledge available to all schools in one place is extremely useful.
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Catherine Rizzo; Assistant Headteacher at Southfields Primary School in Peterborough

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Catherine Rizzo; Assistant Headteacher at Southfields Primary School in Peterborough

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Christopher Bennet, Headteacher, St Peter’s School

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Lorraine White, Headteacher, Watergall Primary School

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PLP is an excellent local provider, and in our experience delivers good value for money on training given its reasonable costs. We have recently put staff through NQT mentoring and NPQML training and have been pleased on all fronts.
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Andy Lyons, Headteacher, Hampton Hargate Primary School

"We have used PLP to provide support for NQT, middle and senior leaders. The trainers are of a good quality and the impact on classroom practice is evident. Outcomes for children have improved significantly over the last two years."

Cathy Carlisle, Headteacher, Alderman Jacobs Primary School

"A round trip to Lincoln from Stamford can mean teachers are out for a whole day. Peterborough is much nearer and the PLP events we have done have been good quality and teachers have provided good feedback"

Tristan Revell, Principal, Malcolm Sarge

"PLP get more exciting, up to date, speakers. I get bombarded with emails from training providers based in London or Manchester but I just delete them. When you have good courses here, as we do with PLP, why look elsewhere?"

Jan Grimble, Head of School, Spalding Primary School

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Kathy Fountain, Headteacher, Middleton Primary School

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